Lock



F. K. HEYER May 1, 1934.

LOCK

Filed Aug. 16, 1930 INVENTOR WM ATTORNEY Patented May 1, 1934 lTED STATES LOCK Frederic K. Heyer, Stamford, Conn, assignor to The Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company,

Stamford, Conn.

Application August 16, 1930, Serial No. 475,674

14 Claims.

This invention relates to pin-tumbler locks. More especially, my invention relates to pintumbler plugs, where the plugs are adapted to contain the pins and springs entirely within the bounds of the particular plug structure, so that when the plug and its springs and pins are assembled, the plug may be inserted as a unit into its particular cylinder. This makes for economy in assembly and in manufacture since the lock housing may then be applied independently to the particular structure, and the plug inserted as a whole, only when it is desired to complete the lock assembly.

More particularly, my invention relates to looks of the type described in the Croning Reissue Patent 17,451, and in an application Serial No. 475,714 filed August 16, 1930 by Karl A. Brauning. In the prior art, as evidenced by Croning, it has always been necessary to use auxiliary retaining mechanism, or else design the plug in two parts so that the springs and tumblers could be assembled therein with facility. My improvement over Croning resides in the arrangement of the plug whereby the pins and springs are inherently retained within the plug without the use of any auxiliary retaining means.

Further improvements and objects of my invention will be evident from a review of the specification and drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a top view of my plug while Fig. 2 is a section thereof along the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation of my plug, while Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively front and end views of the same. Fig. 6 shows side and end views of the tumbler adapted for use with my plug. Fig. 7 is a section along the line 'Z--'7 of Fig. 2, while Fig. 8 is a section along the line 8-8 of Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a section similar to the sections of Figs. '7 and 8 showing the tumbler removed from the chamber. Figs. 10 and 11 are elevation and sectional views of modifications of my invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing and especially Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, I prefer to employ a plug of the usual die cast type, although the same may be machined from brass or other material. This plug hasa series of tumbler chambers 11, and a keyway 12 which communicates with each of the tumbler chambers for allowing the actuation of tumble s 13 by the proper key when inserted in the keyway. Referring now to Fig. 6, it is evident that each tumbler 13 has a leg portion 14 and an arm portion 15, and is cut away at the point 16 for the accommodation of a spring 17 which is adapted to urge the same in a locking direction against the pressure of the particular key which is adapted to operate the same. Each of these tumblers is of such length that when set by the proper key, the two end faces of the leg 14 will be aligned with the periphery of the plug body 10.

For assembling my plug, I employ an additional entrance chamber 17 at the end of the plug through which the springs 17 are adapted to be inserted. I also employ a square opening 18 communicating with all of the chambers for a purpose which will be explained presently. The tumblers 13 are adapted to be dropped in sequence into their particular chambers 11, a tumbler being dropped into chamber 11a first. A spring 17 is then dropped into the tumbler chamber 111), immediately to the rear of the first chamber 11a, and is then pushed up forwardly by means of a tool or other means inserted through the passage 18 so that the spring enters the cutaway portion 16 of the tumbler 13.

It will be quite obvious that a second tumbler 13 inserted immediately behind the first tumbler into chamber 11b will act to maintain the spring 17 immediately in front of it, in position so that this spring will act upon the tumbler for which it is adapted. The spring for the second tumbler is similarly supplied thereto, and when the assembly has been completed, a block or other device may be inserted at the end of the plug into the passage 18, or a dummy tumbler may be inserted into the extra chamber 1'? to maintain the last spring in its proper position.

It will be quite obvious that the presence of the spring in the cutaway portion 16 of each tumbler will maintain that tumbler in a position of equilibrium. The spring will not only press the tumbler in an outward direction as is quite evident from Fig. 2, but it will inherently retain the same within the plug due to the pressure it exerts at each end of the cutaway portion 16 of the tumbler body. As will be readily understood, the spring itself will be held against movement out of its chamber by the cooperation of each of its ends with the plug body as shown in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 10 I have shown a modification of my invention in which a spring 20 is adapted to maintain in equilibrium a tumbler 21 quite similar to the manner in which the same operates in the modification disclosed in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive. The spring in this modification may be inserted from the rear of the plug through a passage similar to passage 18 of Fig. 2 and the chamber 22 in which the spring rests is initially of such size as to allow a free entrance of the spring without any deforming or compression of the same. As soon as the spring is inserted, a piece of sheet metal 23 or other member may be inserted in the chamber to maintain the spring in its proper operating relationship to the tumbler 21.

In Fig. 11 I show an additional modification in which a chamber 24 of rather large size is provided for the particular spring, and when the tumbler and spring are assembled, the plug is crushed at the point 25, so as to decrease the size of the spring chamber 24 and maintain the spring in its proper operating relationship to the tumbler and the plug. It will be quite evident that both these modifications of Figs. 10 and 11, the spring will be inherently retained within the plug, and will not only act to move the tumbler in an outward and locking direction, but will retain the same in a state of equilibrium relatively to the plug.

While I have shown several modifications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the same since it will be understood that variations within the scope of the appended claims will readily occur to one skilled in the art.

I claim:-

1. In a cylinder look, a key plug having a series of tumbler and spring containing chambers, tumblers insertable vertically into said tumbler chambers, springs in the spring containing chambers, each spring being inserted vertically into said plug through the tumbler chamber ad jacent the tumbler chamber corresponding to the particular spring being inserted, each spring then being movable horizontally into its operating position.

2. In a cylinderlock, a key plug having aseries of tumbler chambers, a passage connecting portions of each of said chambers, tumbler springs insertable into said passage into operative relationship to their particular tumblers, said springs being maintained properly positioned in said passage by; the physical contact of said tumblers.

3. In a cylinder lock, a'key plug having a series of tumbler chambers leading to and having an entrance on the periphery of the plug, tumblers inserted into said chambers through said openings, a spring chamber in said plug, springs for said chamber adaptedto enter=said plug through said tumbler. chambers and to be positioned subsequently in operative relationship to their particular tumblers.

4. In a cylinder look, a key plug having a series of tumbler chambers having entrances thereon the periphery oi the plug, tumblers insertable into said chambers through said entrances, a spring chamber in said plug, a passage through said plug connecting said spring and tumbler chambers, and springs inserted into their operative position through said passage.

5. In a cylinder lock, a plug having a series of tumbler and spring containing chambers, tumblers and springs in said chambers, said springs being adapted to press on said tumblers to urge portions thereof beyond the plug periphery, said springs being maintained by said plug in a balanced position, said springs being arranged relatively to said tumblers to maintain said tumblers in a balanced position a predetermined amount beyond the plug periphery.

6. In a cylinder lock, a plug having a transverse tumbler chamber, a key operable tumbler in said chamber, said tumbler being of the same length as said chamber so as to project outwardly from said chamber unless correctly positioned by a proper key, and a spring for operating said tumbler and adapted to maintain the same in projected equilibrium relatively to the plug and a definite distance outwardly of its chamber.

7. In a cylinder lock, a plug having a transverse tumbler bore, a spring chamber leading into said bore, a tumbler in said tumbler chamber, and a spring in said spring chamber, said tumbler having means for utilizing the pressure of said spring, said means being arranged relatively to said spring to maintain the tumbler in balanced equilibrium relatively to said plug.

8. In a cylinder look, a plug having a transverse tumbler chamber, a spring chamber leading into said chamber, a tumbler in said tumbler chamber, said tumbler having a cut-out portion for the accommodation of a portion of said spring, said spring being adapted to maintain said tumbler in balanced equilibrium relatively to said plug.

9. In a cylinder lock, a plug having a transverse tumbler chamber, a spring chamber leading into said tumbler chamber, tumbler in said cham her having a substantially central ut-out portion parallel to said spring chamber, a coiled spring adapted to rest partially in said tumbler portion and partially in said spring chamber, said spring being limited in compression and expansion by its chamber whereby it maintains said tumbler in balanced equilibrium relatively to the plug.

10. In a cylinder lock, a plug having a transverse tumbler chamber, a spring chamber leading into said tumbler chamber, said spring chamber being initially over-sized for the insertion of said spring, and means insertable into said chamber to maintain the spring in its proper position.

11. In a cylinder look, a plug having a transverse tumbler chamber, a spring chamber corresponding to said tumbler chamber, said spring chamber being initially over-sized for the entrance of a spring, means of communication into said spring chamber, and means insertable through said communicating means and into said spring chamber to maintain the spring in its proper assembled position.

12. In a cylinder lock, a key plug having a tumbler chamber and a spring chamber adjacent to said tumbler chamber, a tumbler in said tumbler chamber, a coiled spring in said spring chamber adapted to extend laterally partially into an opening of the tumbler and to press on the same at its opposite ends, said spring being limited in its expansion by its chamber whereby it applies limited pressure on said tumbler at its ends, and maintains the tumbler in balanced equilibrium.

13. In a cylinder lock, a plug having a spring chamber and a tumbler chamber, a spring in said spring chamber and a tumbler in said tumbler chamber, means on said tumbler on which a portion of said spring impinges to project said tumbler from its chamber, and additional means on said tumbler adapted to contact with another portion of said spring for limiting its outward projection, said spring portions being confined by the chamber so as to limit the tumbler projection.

14. In a cylinder lock, a plug having a spring chamber and a tumbler chamber, a spring in said spring chamber and a tumbler in said tumbler chamber, means on said tumbler on which a portion of said spring impinges to project said tumbler from its chamber, and additional means on said tumbler adapted to contact with another portion of saidspring for limiting its outward projection, said spring portions being confined by the chamber so as to resist movement of said tumbler in any direction from the normal balanced position of the spring.

FREDERIC K. HEYER.

Iii) 

